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Best Grocery or Market

Whole Foods Market

Produce so flavorful it could’ve come from your backyard. Gelato so rich it came from the Italian grandmother you never had. Fresh-baked breads. Cheese with names you can’t pronounce. Whole Foods Market was thinking green and offering better-for-you foods before it was trendy. And since Earth Day, it’s been doing it all without plastic bags. What more could you want? A massage? They’ve got that, too.

7529 Corporate Blvd., 218-0452, wholefoodsmarket.com

Endless colors of fruits and vegetables are what make Whole Foods the leader in organic produce. Customers can find produce from family-run local and regional farms.

The Whole truth

Anyone who knows me appreciates and acknowledges that I’m weird about food. I avoid high fructose corn syrup except when I turn a blind eye to Icees, Miracle Whip and mixed drinks. I don’t eat mushrooms, but I subsist thanks to Quorn, the mysterious fungi that tastes like chicken. I only eat chicken and turkey when I don’t want to cause a scene. I eat veggie bologna so I don’t have to think about what miscellaneous animal parts I’m consuming. And much like a finicky 5-year-old, I’ll try anything that involves cheese.

Those are just some of the reasons I shop at Whole Foods. I don’t have to worry about garbage ingredients hiding in my groceries. I can buy plenty of meatless options and it’s like I’ve died and gone to cheese heaven. I don’t even have much of a paycheck left after I pay my bills, but a certain portion of it always goes to Whole Paycheck—err, Whole Foods. Plus, when I ask to bag my own groceries in my own reusable bag, the cashiers don’t look at me like I’m asking them to find the square root of 574.

I have to hand it to them, they know how to make grocery shopping feel more like a vacation than a chore. Have you ever heard anyone complain about having to go to Whole Foods? Maybe a worker, maybe, but that’s not likely since they’re always one of Fortune’s best companies to work for. It’s almost like you’re going to the World Showcase at Epcot Center without all the themed architecture and costumes. Sushi chefs? Sure. Fresh pastries? Uh-huh. Imported beer and wine? Yep. The occasional “I dare you to eat that” fruit or vegetable? Indeed.

Whatever Whole Foods’ recipe for success, we shop there because of our own truths. For some, maybe it’s the closest they’ll ever get to the hustle and bustle of a big city grocer. For others, maybe it’s the dietary restrictions or preferences. And for others, it’s all in the philosophy of putting your money where your mouth is. For me? The whole truth? It’s because they always have a bag of Dirty’s honey mustard potato chips. Mmm. —M.F.

Best Bakery

Ambrosia Bakery

Dare you to leave Ambrosia Bakery empty-handed. Aside from the legendary fresh strawberry cake, there are baked goods galore from bite-size cheesecakes and red velvet cakes to chocolate mousse cups. If you haven’t browsed the store, chances are you’ve sampled their wares on a dessert tray somewhere. By mid-summer they should be in their larger Siegen Lane location, offering up more sweet treats than your taste buds can handle.

11358 Perkins Rd., 763-6489, ambrosiabakery.com

Ambrosia Bakery’s legendary fresh strawberry cake

Sugar high

When Ambrosia Bakery opened in Baton Rouge more than 14 years ago, the fresh strawberry cake wasn’t on the menu. Cheryl Sherman came up with the recipe shortly thereafter and it’s been a secret family recipe ever since.

Felix Sherman Jr. says despite the bakery’s offering more than 500 items, the strawberry cake reigns supreme, available in single servings, 6-inch round and square versions, 8-inch, 12-inch, quarter-sheet and full sheet cake sizes. There’s even a special box for the 8-inch cake, giving the berries more room to breathe and a clear window to tempt passers by. In less than a year, Ambrosia has gone through 5,000 of these boxes.

If that doesn’t give you an idea of the cake’s devoted following, check this out: There’s a special crew of about a dozen employees who work exclusively on the fresh strawberry cakes. The store goes through 150 pounds of fresh strawberries a day (from Capitol City Produce, Louisiana strawberries when available). During peak strawberry cake season (around Mother’s Day), the store goes through 300 pounds of fresh strawberries daily. —M.F.

Best Gift Shop

The Royal Standard

You may have to don sunglasses when you walk through the door because all that glitters is most certainly for sale here. Between the perfumed soaps, handbags, jewelry and dozens of other cute, classy items, you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone on your list (and maybe yourself as well). Feeling lost among the labyrinthine collection of pretty little things? Try out their excellent personal shopper service, and don’t forget to ask for gift wrap.

Two locations, theroyalstandard.com

Best Spa or Salon

Bumble Lane

Between the refreshment-stocked relaxation areas, private steam rooms and whirlpools in the his-and-hers lockers, you may never want to leave. Treat yourself and your sweetie to a couples’ massage, or a mom-to-be to a perfect day out with the prenatal package. Just be sure to budget plenty of time; patrons who come in for a short session may find themselves spending hours among the copious amenities.

7540 Jefferson Hwy., bumblelane.com

New spa on the block

If you think Bumble Lane is an incongruous name for a spa, you’d be right—but that’s because it didn’t start out as one. At its original location on Perkins Road, Bumble Lane was the name of a gift shop/children’s clothing store—that just happened to have a small massage therapy parlor in the back room.

Over time, however, the massage therapy proved the most popular and profitable part of the business, so much so that their loyal customer base outgrew the location very quickly.

Owner Casey Little saw an opportunity to expand at the newly constructed Towne Center on Corporate, and the new and improved Bumble Lane day spa opened its doors in July 2005 to almost immediate success.

The spacious facilities and numerous little extras are there to make the customer feel like they’re on a mini-vacation. “We wanted to take the concept of a destination spa and make it accessible in an urban location,” Little explains. —R.U.

Best Jewelry Store

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend even here, but sapphires, emeralds and freshwater pearls are certainly more than passing acquaintances. Chic, classy pieces from a variety of designers give customers the chance to express emotions from the platonic to the passionate in much more than words. Add to that the unmatched personal service, and you’ll feel like Audrey Hepburn at Tiffany’s—right at home.

Multiple locations, lmfj.com

David Yurman’s classic cable bracelets in sterling silver, blue topaz and blue sapphires are one of the popular items that keeps Lee Michaels popular with Baton Rougeans.

Unforgettable proposals

As purveyors of engagement rings, the managers at Lee Michaels have collected their share of interesting and unusual proposal stories. Manager Kara Michaels shared a couple with 225.

One customer proposed to his girlfriend while on a fishing trip. Affixing the ring to the end of his fishing line, he handed the rod to her and asked her to bait it for him. When the girlfriend found the ring already baited with diamonds, she tearfully gave her assent.

But not all clever and elaborate proposals go off without a hitch.

One groom-to-be apparently thought it would be a clever idea to propose with a “found” ring. He hid his engagement gift among some rocks during a hike with his girlfriend in Tunica Hills. When they rounded the bend, he “discovered” the ring. Unfortunately, the plan backfired. Rather than being charmed, his girlfriend was concerned about who may have lost it. She even proposed they call the police before her affianced managed to explain himself. —R.U.

The original wine section at Calandro’s on Government.

Best Place to Buy Wine

Calandro’s Supermarket

Whether you’re an aficionado eyeing a Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley in the wine vault, or a newbie riffling through the bargain basket, there’s a bottle of wine to be had at Calandro’s. They offer local and global wines and are trained to make suggestions on food and wine pairings. Plus there’s always a staff member buzzing around ready to make a recommendation.

Two locations, calandros.com

Best Women’s Clothing Store

Ann Taylor Loft

It’s classy, casual and affordable. The staff can help you find the right outfit to go from work to nightlife and the variety of colors and cuts ensures you’ll find the most flattering combination. Even the most finicky of shoppers will walk away with a purchase without denting their wallet. Plus you might literally find a pair of pants with your name on it.

Multiple locations, anntaylorloft.com

Best Men’s Clothing Store

Dillard’s

It’s just plain difficult to compete with the kind of selection in men’s clothes Dillard’s carries. From Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, from Armani to Cole Haan, from Valentino to Yves St. Laurent, this long-established department store has something for every style sensibility. The vast selection of ready-to-wear combined with excellent customer service facilitates “man-shopping”—i.e. grab whatever looks good and go.

Mall of Louisiana, Mall at Cortana, dillards.com